“I consider myself a lifelong student… Without education, where would I be? Where would any of us be?” he asked those gathered in the iconic General Assembly Hall.
Because education transforms lives, economies and societies, “we must transform education”.
downward spiral
Rather than being a big possibility, the UN chief emphasized that education is fast becoming “a great divider”, noting that about 70 percent of 10-year-olds in poor countries are unable to read and “barely learn”.
With access to the best resources, schools and universities, the rich get the best jobs, while the poor – especially girls – displaced people and students with disabilities face huge barriers to obtaining qualifications that can to change their lives, he continued.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 “delivered a hammer blow to progress on SDG4,” the Sustainable Development Goal that targets equitable quality education.
“But the education crisis started much earlier – and goes much deeper,” Guterres added, citing the report of the International Commission on the Future of Education, which clearly stated: “Education systems do not make the grade.”
Failing grade
Subject to outdated and narrow curricula, undertrained and underpaid teachers, and rote learning, he asserted that “education is failing students and societies“.
At the same time, the digital divide penalizes poor students as well Education funding gap ‘wider than ever’.
“Now is the time to transform education systems”, underlined the head of the UN.
21st century vision
With a new 21st century educational vision taking shape, he noted that quality teaching must support the development of the individual learner throughout their life.
“It should help people learn how to learn, with a focus on problem-solving and collaboration…provide the foundations for learning, from reading, writing and maths to scientific, digital, social and emotional skills. .. develop students’ capacity to adapt to the rapidly changing world of work…[and] be accessible to all from the earliest stages and throughout their lives”.
In a time of rampant misinformation, climate denial and attacks on human rights, Mr. Guterres stressed the need for education systems that “distinguish fact from conspiracy, instill respect for science and celebrate humanity in all its diversity.”
From vision to reality
© UNICEF / Giacomo Pirozzi
Children sit in a circle with their teacher at the early childhood development center in the village of Garin Badjini, southeastern Nigeria.
To make the vision a reality, he highlighted five areas of engagement, starting with protecting the right to quality education for everyone, everywhere – especially girls and those in the heart of the crisis.
Emphasizing that schools should be open to all, without discrimination, he called on the Taliban in Afghanistan: “Immediately remove all restrictions on girls’ access to secondary education.”
As “the life blood of educational systems”, Mr. Guterres then called for a new focus on teachers’ roles and skills for it facilitate and promote learning rather than simply broadcasting responses.
Third, he advocated that schools become “safe, healthy spaces, with no place for violence, stigma or intimidation.”
To achieve the fourth objective, that the digital revolution benefits all learners, he encouraged governments to work with private sector partners to increase the content of digital learning.
Financial solidarity
“None of this will be possible without an increase in education funding and global solidarity,” the UN chief said, introducing his final priority.
He urged countries to protect education budgets and shift education spending to learning resources.
“Funding education should be the number one priority for governments. It is the single most important investment that any country can make for its people and its future”, said the Secretary General. “Expenditure and policy advice must be aligned with the provision of quality education for all.”
‘Global Movement’
In closing, he stated that the Transformative Education Summit will achieve its global goals only by mobilizing “a global movement.”
“Let’s move forward together so that everyone can learn, thrive and dream throughout their lives. Let’s make sure that today’s students and future generations have access to the education they need to create a more sustainable, inclusive, just and peaceful world for all.”
War, disease, economic development
Catherine Russell, who heads the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), drew attention to the effect of war on children’s education, calling on governments to “increase support to help every child learn, wherever they are”.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, highlighted the devastating impact of HIV on adolescent girls and young women in Africa, informing participants that in sub-Saharan Africa last year, 4,000 girls were infected every week.
“This is a crisis!” she said. “Because when a girl is infected at that early age, there is no cure for HIV, that marks the rest of their lives, their opportunities.”
She said at the summit to which 12 African countries have now committed Education Plusa bold initiative to prevent HIV infections through free universal and quality secondary education for all girls and boys in Africa, reinforced through comprehensive empowerment programmes.
Audrey Azoulay, head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recalled that “there can be no economic development and peace without education” and underlined that Afghan girls must be able to return to school. “It is their right,” she said. Look here by giving her address here.
Other luminaries
Other notable speakers included UN Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai, who called on world leaders to make schools safe for girls and protect every child’s right to learn, saying that “if you are serious about creating a safe and sustainable future for children, then be serious about education”.
Somaya Faruqi, former captain of the Afghan girls’ robotics team, expressed that every girl has the right to learn, asserting that “while our cousins and brothers sit in classrooms, I and many other girls are forced to give up their dreams our waiting. Every girl belongs to school“.
Newly announced UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Nakate stressed the need for all children to have access to education, as “their future depends on it”. Check out her address here.
Another highlight was a stirring musical performance by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo, who encouraged everyone to raise their voices for the transformation of education.
130 countries promise to restart education
Later in the afternoon it was announced that more than 130 countries participating in the summit have pledged to revamp their education systems and accelerating action to end the learning crisis
The commitments came after 115 national consultations that brought together leaders, teachers, students, civil society and other partners to gather collective recommendations on the most pressing demands.
Almost half of the countries prioritized measures to address learning loss, while a third of countries committed to supporting the psycho-social well-being of both students and teachers. Two out of three countries also referred to measures to offset the direct and indirect costs of education for economically vulnerable communities, and 75% of countries underlined the importance of gender-sensitive education policies in their commitments.
These statements highlighted the role of education in achieving all the SDGs and the links to climate crises, conflict and poverty. The measures addressed the recovery from COVID-19 and getting back on track with the SDGs, while highlighting the need for innovation in education to prepare today’s students for a rapidly changing world.
